Hi - I have had a headache for a week now. It sits behind my eyes and is on the medium side of painful. I do have some symptoms of migraine such as bright light and sharp sound pains.

I do have a history of migraine headaches... mainly before my last child (now almost 3) was born. I have only had 10 or so migraines in the past 3 years, which is nothing compared to what they were like previously. My migraines of the past have been debilitating... but I am still functional with the headache I have currently. Painful but livable... to an extent.

In addition to this constant headache I am also smelling smoke all of the time. No one around me smokes nor do they smell the smoke I smell. At home, in the car, walking around outside, at church or work... its constant. Sometimes it smells like someone is sitting next to me smoking, while other times it is less evident, as though someone in the next room is smoking. Totally weird.

I went for a massage mid week, hoping that would help... no relief. I went to the Doctor yesterday and was prescribed PRN Excedrine Migraine and a nausea medicine. No relief yet either. I went to bed early... trying to get enough rest for my body to heal... still awoke with the same symptoms.

At times it seems to ease... then the symptoms return. As I awake in the mornings, then shower, all is great. Sometime shortly thereafter, the symptoms return.

When I was younger, and the migraines were more consistent, I always had the aura triggers along with the typical light and sound pains. Since this set has been more than a week now, I wonder if I shouldn't just go back to the doctor and see about a prescription for antibiotics to treat a sinus infection. While I really don't have any other symptoms of a S.I., I would like to try that before heading in for any other expensive tests and scans.

Thanks EvilFluorescents for your reply. I'll reply again if something actually works for me.

When your migraine/headache patterns change, it's usually a good idea to get checked out by your neuro.

If you have a history of migraine with aura, and you don't have any sinus infection symptoms, then it's much more likely that migraine (rather than sinus headache) is at play. Fewer symptoms in the morning (i.e. after sleep) and after a shower (i.e. warm water on the neck and scalp) seem to point to migraine also.

Have you ever tried a triptan, like imitrex before? It may be worth it to start keeping a migraine journal. I hope you find a solution soon!

I know this thread is a little old, but I was just wondering if you found out the problem? I have had severe headaches along with a musty smoke smell since the birth of my first child in April. I had my husband running around the house checking filters because I kept smelling smoke. I've never had migraines or any other health problems before my pregnancy. My head hurts for days, I feel nauseated and I'm sensitive to light (but who isn't with a headache?)...I go to bed with it, wake up with it, and sometimes I feel like my throat is burning from the smoke smell...are these signs and symptoms of a migraine? Can something like giving birth to a child cause migraines? I did have an epidural and ended up having a c-section which is the first time I've ever had surgery or even spent time in a hospital for any reason. And this is probably unrelated, but I also have a lot of pain in my feet and legs...I literally feel like the birth of my child aged me about 30 years. Is this just stress and fatigue? Should I see a doctor?